NEW DORP -- Students at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in New Dorp, and St. Christopher’s School, Grant City, got a pre-holiday visit from their peers at Immaculate Conception School in the Westchester town of Tuckahoe, in a show of support for Staten Island students and families affected by Hurricane Sandy.

A four-car caravan made its way from Tuckahoe, carrying donations of presents, gift cards, and students’ messages for comrades at the two Staten Island schools.

The first stop was St. Christopher’s, where Immaculate Conception students, parents, principal and pastor were treated to the annual Christmas show, after which donations were unloaded by students from both schools.

Immaculate Conception students Antonio Rogliano and Evan Marcotte recognized the two St. Christopher’s students whom they had made cards for. The twins, who are St. Christopher’s students Zachary and Andrew DiDonato, were helping to unload the donated items when the four boys realized they had a connection.

St. Christopher’s principal Catherine Falabella and pastor, the Rev. Joseph McLafferty, were joined by Immaculate Conception principal Maureen Harten and the Rev. Eric Raaser, pastor, as hugs and gifts were exchanged. “I am grateful for the generosity of the students, staff and parents of Immaculate Conception and our new found connection,” Mrs. Falabella said.

The caravan was then escorted to Our Lady Queen of Peace, where they were treated to lunch by principal Theresa Signorile and pastor, the Rev. Pancrose Kalist. Eighth-graders at Queen of Peace, who had homes and property damaged or lost to Hurricane Sandy, gave the Westchester students a first-hand account of the storm.

Both borough schools were presented with gift cards, baked goods, wreaths and banners proclaiming “ICS sends a ferry-load of good wishes to St. Christopher’s/OLQP.”

Students finished the visit with a trip to Our Lady of Lourdes Mission Church on Cedar Grove Avenue, which sustained storm damage to the lower level. There, children from both schools paused to observe a moment of silence and reflection.

“Maureen and her students brought us such joy. I am humbled by her support for my families. We made a connection after the first email and I am grateful for our newly formed friendship,” Mrs. Signorile said. 

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<rr>A few days after the visit from their Westchester buddies, Queen of Peace students had more visitors, this time from St. Francis Xavier School in Weymouth, Mass., who arrived with generous donations

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, St. Francis principal Robert Murphy was approached by fourth-grader Buddy Fitzgerald and asked to conduct a dress-down day for Staten Island students affected by Hurricane Sandy. More than $630 was raised and donated to Our Lady Queen of Peace. Murphy said the New Dorp school was selected because one of his staff, school nurse Bridgette Jaklitsch, has a sister who lives on Staten Island.

One St. Francis student, first-grader James Michael Killinger, however, wanted to do more. After viewing pictures of the hurricane damage online with his mother, the 7-year-old asked if he could donate his Christmas presents and money to Staten Island children. Wanting to make sure that the money collected went directly to the affected families and not a corporation, his mom reached out to principal Murphy, who put her in touch with Mrs. Signorile at Queen of Peace.

The family put together a short video of James Michael explaining his desire to collect monetary donations, as well as toys and necessities for Island children who were affected by Sandy. After his mom posted it on her Facebook page, and the local TV news station and local newspaper got wind of the story, offers of help and donations began to pour in.

James Michael raised another $600. But he didn’t stop there. When he celebrated his seventh birthday on Dec. 13, he also donated some of his birthday presents, his mom said.

Then he decided he wanted to make Christmas cards for every student at Queen of Peace. He enlisted his fellow classmates and students in neighboring towns to help him reach his goal of 500 cards to deliver in person to the New Dorp school.

Last week the Killinger family drove five hours from Massachusetts, arriving at Queen of Peace with a truck-load of toys and donations, and James Michael’s 500 Christmas cards, which he did deliver in person, just as he planned.

Mrs. Signorile was amazed by the generosity of the Killinger family and St. Francis students. “There are so many people across the country that are coming to the aid of our families. I just don’t know how I will ever be able to thank them. Words just don’t seem enough,” she said. 